David Franks, CEO Iarnród Éireann sets out the prospects for 2015.. with newly acquired funding allowing for €28m spending on various improvements and enhancements to the service...
This side of the Irish Sea, Network Rail continues to get flack - and plenty of it - from the Press, given the size of bonuses in the rail industry ...
In China, the two big railway manufacturers, CSR and CNR merge, creating a formidable presence in overseas markets.
Alstom and Bombardier raise legal challenges regarding Netherlands Railways awarding Stadler a key contract...
Catch up on "The Engineer"...
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Headlines
UK
Network Rail Press Release.
Network Rail clarification statement regarding Robin Gisby
Over the last few days there has been inaccurate reporting concerning the bonus entitlement of Network Rail's managing director, network operations, Robin Gisby. This press notice seeks to clarify the position absolutely:
It was announced in September that Robin would be leaving Network Rail early in the new year and that his successor would be Phil Hufton, who joins Network Rail on the 5th January 2015. It is therefore inaccurate to suggest that Robin's departure is in any way connected with any of the events of the last few days.
The timing of Robin's departure, 28 February 2015, means that he cannot be entitled to any bonus or incentive payment in 2015 either before or after his departure. On his departure he will therefore not be entitled to and will not receive any retention or incentive payment and no 'golden handcuffs'. All this was agreed in November 2014, long before the problems experienced at Christmas. There has been absolutely no change of position since then.
Mark Carne, Network Rail chief, will not take bonus (Belfast Telegraph)
OBE for Network Rail manager who oversaw Christmas chaos in London.(The Guardian)
'Fatal' Penzance level crossing is permanently closed.(BBC News)
Virgin Trains launches two new direct services from London.(Individual.com)
Gravy train! Rail fat cats paid millions as fares soar - including one who earned £2.2 million despite operating most crowded service.(Mail Online)
Rail fares rise by THREE TIMES more than salary increases, a charity has claimed.(The Mirror)
Free travel in London for New Years Eve.(This Is Local London)
International
China
Two railway giants announce merger.(english.people.cn)
Bad English hurts sales of fast trains(China Daily)
Shares skyrocket on China train firms mega merger.(BBC News)
Chinese cities open 10 more metro lines - Railway Gazette
Ireland
International
China
Two railway giants announce merger.(english.people.cn)
Bad English hurts sales of fast trains(China Daily)
Shares skyrocket on China train firms mega merger.(BBC News)
Chinese cities open 10 more metro lines - Railway Gazette
Ireland
A message from David Franks, CEO Iarnród Éireann
2015 looks far more positive for us, having managed to secure some additional subsidy in December for use next year and whilst this doesn't provide for everything we need it will go a long way to doing so. As a consequence our plans for 2015 have been revised to include:
1. An additional €12m on track maintenance to be targeted mainly on the Dublin/Cork main line to improve journey times.
2. An additional €3m on signalling renewals.
3. An additional €8m on train maintenance.
4. €5m on a Customer First Project which will see our ticketing equipment, reservation system and pricing engines replaced and new revenue management system and CRM capability delivered over the next 3 years.
5. A new fast service from Cork to Dublin and return, with a journey time of circa 2 hours 10 mins and the development of a more frequent Dart timetable.
A very different prospect indeed from what we were facing this time last year!
Our underlying financial position hasn't changed though and there is still the need to start all over again to get funding for 2016 and beyond ...but hey who said life was easy!
Of course, a word of thanks to all Iarnród Éireann staff for the way that they have shown their support for the business over the last year..and on into the immediate future. Together we can make the business work!
Other Railway Press
Alstom and Bombardier to contest Dutch train order.(International Railway Journal)
PKP Cargo buys 80% stake in AWT for EUR 103.2 mln
On December 30th, PKP Cargo signed an agreement to buy for EUR 103.2 mln (PLN 445 million) an 80% stake Advanced World Transport (AWT), the second largest rail freight operator in the Czech Republic active in Central and Southern Europe. More
Aldesa to renovate Gliwice railway station
PKP PLK signed a PLN 137 milion (EUR 32 million) contract with Aldesa Construcciones Poland and Aldesa Construcciones consortium for the reconstruction of Gliwice railway station. More
EUR 6 million for GSM-R infrastructure construction – preparatory works
PKP PLK will receive PLN 26 million (EUR 6 million) grant from the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment for the project GSM-R system infrastructure construction on railway lines in accordance with the schedule NPW ERTMS phase 1 – preparatory works. More
Recent regional train service from Frankfurt Oder (Germany) to Poznan (Poland) to be cancelled
Just after 5 months after the first scheduled train between Frankfurt Oder (Germany) and Poznan (Poland) entered operation, DB Regio NRW announced that starting with the 1st of January 2015 the service will be cancelled due to lack of funding from the Polish side. More
RUB 6 billion for the engineering, survey work and project documentation of Moscow-Kazan high-speed railway line
The Government of Russia will allocate Russian Railways (RZD) from the 2015 federal budget an amount of RUB 6 billion for the engineering, survey work and the development of project documentation for the construction of Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod - Kazan high-speed railway line. Next year a tender for the selection of a contractor will be organised, informed RZD. More
Uzbekistan Railways to invest over USD 358 million in railway infrastructure in 2015
Uzbekistan state companies will increase by 15% the volume of investments in 2015. A list of 261 projects in the field of railways, energy and oil&gas has been approved by Presidential decree. Uzbekistan Railways will allocate USD 358.6 million for the construction and modernisation of its network. More
Great Rail Journeys on YouTube
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You can catch our new TV advertisement today in episodes of Peak Practice (ITV Encore), A Place in the Sun (Home), Star Trek Enterprise (Sky Atlantic), Zulu (More4), and Goldfinger (ITV), among other programmes!
You can also see it on YouTube ...
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